^this there is a write-up too with kobe talking about the off season and what's he's going to be doing, worth a read despite obvious espn bias I also quite enjoy how the heat crushed boston yet the verbiage was very celtic friendly

lasting images/gifs from the 2010-2011 playoff runs of the lakers and celtics... enjoy:

If you look at it you have 2 small market teams and a semi-small in Dallas left in the Western conference. There's not much else to talk about with all the juicy drama the media would like to tear apart in regards to the epic failure that went down in LA.

Dallas/Ft. Worth is the 7th largest media market in the US. I wouldn't call that semi-small (OKC and Memphis are in the mid-40's by contrast).

Point is still conceded though that they don't have the soap opera factor that the Lakers or the Heat have for the media to latch onto.

Yeah my bad on that. Only their best and most clutch player at the time . I forgot I think the best remaining matchup is Miami - OKC. Of the west teams left, only the thunder have a player that viewers from everywhere will tune in to watch. That's a big disservice to Dirk, but it's true. Seems like the only way the Mavs make national news is when their owner makes a spectacle of himself, which I think we all can agree - Mavs employees included - is something we'd rather do without

Yeah my bad on that. Only their best and most clutch player at the time . I forgot

I think the best remaining matchup is Miami - OKC. Of the west teams left, only the thunder have a player that viewers from everywhere will tune in to watch. That's a big disservice to Dirk, but it's true. Seems like the only way the Mavs make national news is when their owner makes a spectacle of himself, which I think we all can agree - Mavs employees included - is something we'd rather do without

I agree about Cuban, although you should notice that you've not seen a single quote from him during the playoffs. He's been uncharacteristically quiet...so far.

Right, 12 more possessions but Miami still shot 42% from the field to Boston's 49%. Miami also shot 36% from three versus Boston's 46% percent. Did Miami's 12 extra possessions make up that difference? I don't see how because the teams hit the same number of FGs and 3FGs. Tie game. But they won by 10 . . .and they just happened to be +10 from the line in made free throws. That is literally the difference in a 10-point game. What's OBVIOUS is that Miami's 38-20 free throw advantage is a bit much.

Alternative interpretation: you live by the jump shot, you die by the jump shot. Boston didn't have anybody that could create going to the hole, so they didn't get foul calls. Miami does, and did get those calls. I couldn't tell if you were trying to blame the refs or not, but the Celtics haven't been built to get a lot of charity stripe points for the last couple years. *And* their defensive style had a lot of the old school "hack 'em when they go to the basket" business. With Perkins gone, who exactly was going to be blocking shots? Not a big surprise here, that Miami would get a lot of calls and Boston wouldn't.

Alternative interpretation: you live by the jump shot, you die by the jump shot. Boston didn't have anybody that could create going to the hole, so they didn't get foul calls. Miami does, and did get those calls.

I couldn't tell if you were trying to blame the refs or not, but the Celtics haven't been built to get a lot of charity stripe points for the last couple years. *And* their defensive style had a lot of the old school "hack 'em when they go to the basket" business. With Perkins gone, who exactly was going to be blocking shots? Not a big surprise here, that Miami would get a lot of calls and Boston wouldn't.

When you are older and a step slower, you will pick up more fouls. And as you mention, Boston's biggest problem is the middle. Guys rotate back inside to help and that creates out of position fouls.

With that said, it bugs me how much Lebrat gets away with lowering his head and ramming over people. Now, they let him get away with that in the regular season as well, so it was not the reason the Celts lost. But, what other player is allowed to bulldoze over people like that? I know he is strong but it is silly. Yes, he is strong but he is still guilty of a lot of charges. Lebrat is super talented and actually plays some good defense. Kudos to him for that. I don't think the NBA should be so one sided in letting him get away with offensive foul murder.

I agree about Cuban, although you should notice that you've not seen a single quote from him during the playoffs. He's been uncharacteristically quiet...so far.

And I think it's kept them more focused. I thought I read an article where Dirk was quoted to the effect of him wishing Cuban would just shut the fuck up, but now I can't find it. Btw, for all the talk here about blockbuster laker trades, the most important offseason task they have, by far, is to find a coach. I heard Kobe wants Brian Shaw, but do you put in a rook or hire someone like Adelman or JVG?